I think we can have neither strong institutions nor capable leadership unless we educate our masses.If our voters vote with their foot-prints,how can we have educated,charasmatic leadership who are in turn supposed to strengthen the institutions.
Take Islam for example which started with the word'Read'.And today it is the largest deen(religion)in the world.How wonderfully Rousseo and Voltaire revolutionized the French peasantry with pamphlets for which a lady-admirer of Voltaire had donated the money.At least those who followed them knew the ABCs and helped them bring about such memorable revolution.Now go and see the french leadership and institutions.
Look at India,the biggest demonized democracy with elected leadership.what about her decaying,corrupt and crooked institutions administered by laughing characters like Laalu and rabri devi,or fancy filmstars.Only bcoz India also remains as illiterate as we.I would say the problm with all third world is wide-spread illiteracy.Poverty vanishes with skilled,literate populace.Malthus' theory of natural population check is alwys in the play to control poverty in rising population only if society is literate enough to get skilled and elect leaders who build strong insttitions.
Maa salam